Architect Georges Dedoyard | ||
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Address Route de Bizory 1, 6600 Bastogne, Belgium Similar Bastogne War Museum, Musée en Piconrue, Bastogne Barracks, BASTOGNE ARDENNES 44 MUSE, Bouillon Castle | ||
The mardasson memorial near bastogne belgium
The Mardasson Memorial is a monument honoring the memory of American soldiers wounded or killed during World War II's Battle of the Bulge. It is located near Bastogne in the Luxembourg province of Belgium.
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The first step towards the memorial was undertaken on July 4, 1946, with the presentation of some earth from the site to U.S. President Harry Truman. Dedication was on July 16, 1950.
Architect Georges Dedoyard designed a 12 metres (39 ft) tall monument in the shape of a five-pointed American star with 31 metres (102 ft) sides surrounding a 20 metres (66 ft) wide atrium. The inner walls are covered with ten passages carved in stone commemorating the battle, and the is parapet engraved inside and out with the names of the then 48 U.S. States. Insignia of most participating battalions are shown on the walls, representing the 76,890 killed and wounded during the thwarted December 1944-January 1945 German Watch on the Rhine offensive.
Below the structure a crypt with three altars – one each for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services – was carved, and decorated with mosaics by French artist Fernand Léger.
The Latin inscription on the memorial stone:
translates to "The Belgian people remember their American liberators – 4th July 1946."
Just beyond the memorial is the Bastogne War Museum, which displays World War II artifacts and shows a film containing footage shot during the battle.